Video

Watch: Tragedy and comedy in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite

Words by Luís Azevedo

Group of people in traditional Asian clothing holding a cake and celebrating together outdoors.
Group of people in traditional Asian clothing holding a cake and celebrating together outdoors.
Dissecting the slapstick and dramatic elements of the South Korean filmmaker’s Oscar-winning satire.

Question: what do Julius Caesar and Buster Keaton have in common with South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho? Two words: comedy and tragedy.

To celebrate the home ents release of Parasite on 1 June, we asked ace video essayist Luís Azevedo to explore the techniques Bong uses to juxtapose and bring together these two ends of the emotional spectrum.

Get more Little White Lies

Watch below to find out how Bong combines elements of slapstick humour and high drama to dazzling effect in his Oscar-sweeping social satire.

Parasite is now available to own and watch online here.

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